Not sure if you guys know this, but the American perception of Australian culture is quite positive. Of course, what Americans think Australian culture is about is probably mostly ridiculous, but it's perceived very fondly.

The American TV and radio ads for Foster's beer and Outback Steakhouse are great examples. A guy with an Australian accent, promoting "Crocodile Dundee" stereotypes, sells a product. And Americans eat it up, literally.

Yeah, that was the worst gig ever. Much more fun having residencies at small, fleabag bars. As for the "exposure" you receive playing a prestige venue with a name band ... it doesn't necessarily mean good exposure ...

I usually find Skyhooks songs too repetitive but they worked great live because they were so tight and had such great energy. Ego is a great little number.

Going back to 1972, this was a classic by excellent vocalist, Jeff St John http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgWGQTcDFLk ... a million miles from from the formulaic singer/dancer bimbo and himbo pop stars on the record company mass production line!

Skyhooks: the whole Ego album is good. my local AOR station played the whole thing when it came out in '75 and i went to school the next day singing "You Just Like Me Cause I'm Good In Bed". my friends wanted to know - What are you singing ? : ) didn't hear it again until da tube. wondered if i just imagined the record was that good. it was. and so were the songs from other albums that i found and the documentary was good too.

Jeff St. John: great voice. is he wheel-chair bound for life oe was that a momentary occurance ? i could look him up, but...you know...i'm like lazy and stuff.

Don't need to click the link. I saw him perform it on TV for many years. The man is a dag but he's a genuine talent. One of his tricks was to doing a painting in a couple of minutes before an audience - very skillful!

Not sure if you guys know this, but the American perception of Australian culture is quite positive. Of course, what Americans think Australian culture is about is probably mostly ridiculous, but it's perceived very fondly.

The American TV and radio ads for Foster's beer and Outback Steakhouse are great examples. A guy with an Australian accent, promoting "Crocodile Dundee" stereotypes, sells a product. And Americans eat it up, literally.

Oh yeah, the throw a shrimp on the barbie thing. Bear in mind that no Aussie would ever say that - he translated "prawns" into the Americanese term - "shrimps".

Yeah, the idea of the stoic, laconic Aussie is history. In our cities people are just as neurotic, oversensitive, complaining and hair-trigger as people in cities everywhere.

Quote:

Originally Posted by unfunkyfooted

Skyhooks: the whole Ego album is good. my local AOR station played the whole thing when it came out in '75 and i went to school the next day singing "You Just Like Me Cause I'm Good In Bed". ...

Jeff St. John: great voice. is he wheel-chair bound for life oe was that a momentary occurance ? i could look him up, but...you know...i'm like lazy and stuff.

Ah, there's a story behind You Just Like Me Cause I'm Good In Bed ... it was banned on all the commercial radio stations. Just at that time the ABC (government-funded independent media) started up a radio station for young people to support local product - 2JJ - and that was the first song they broadcast - a nice statement of intent.

The Bee Gees started their music careers in Brisbane but they'd long returned to their native England by the time they made it internationally.

Olivia ... yeah, I guess, but she was pretty well a product.

Just noticed there's not too many women in these lists ... hmm, All woman band, The Party Girls, played hard pop rock http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAaT8P5kVD0. My old band supported them one time and their crew was awesome - they really looked after us and we never sounded so good. The band were nice too.

Back to the boys, Jeff Lang is arguably our most talented blues guitarist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvTiTICBI2M ... I've seen this lineup play and, while they noodle like crazy, they noodle very, very well.

Has anyone heard of Alex Lloyd? He was pretty big for a while. He started out in a band called Mother Hubbard, who sounded like Pearl Jam before Pearl Jam did. Trivia: the sister of an ex partner was friends with their drummer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdmUucJyugg

You and some surprisingly "well listened" Yanks are pretty much covering it Pol. Everytime I think of one, I come back and see that it's been added (Skyhooks was my last attempt). Don't think Powderfinger have been mentioned have they? Shame to see them split last year......great band I always thought.

Outside of them, I'm scraping the barrel. Don't think I've seen Dragon mentioned...Sherbert perhaps (Ok,,,lame, but people obviously loved 'em back in the day....poor man's Skyhooks I always thought...after the fact of course, being such a spring chicken and all). :-)

Lindy Morrison is my new hero. didn't Split Endz do a video in that same rustic barn / shack set ?

Dunno the vid, Unfunk. Lindy is now a management consultant or sumpin like that :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pocket-full-of-gold

You and some surprisingly "well listened" Yanks are pretty much covering it Pol. Everytime I think of one, I come back and see that it's been added (Skyhooks was my last attempt). Don't think Powderfinger have been mentioned have they? Shame to see them split last year......great band I always thought.

Outside of them, I'm scraping the barrel. Don't think I've seen Dragon mentioned...Sherbert perhaps (Ok,,,lame, but people obviously loved 'em back in the day....poor man's Skyhooks I always thought...after the fact of course, being such a spring chicken and all). :-)

Yeah, I've been impressed by a few of these guys, who break the cliche of the insular Yank :)

Yep, Powderfinger were after my time ... good pickup.

Dragon, they were super slick on stage, like a band of session players (also expat Kiwis). Who can forget their outrageous single Are You Old Enough? (just heard it on the radio a few mins ago). How did such seediness make it to No 1?? How about when they did the mime thing on Countdown ... singing "are you old enough" to a mass of screaming girls - hilarious!

Speaking of Kiwis, there was also Dave Dobbyn and his band DD Smash (also v good live) ... Whaling was a great song.

I liked two Sherbert songs - Summer Love and Howzat! - where the bubblegum was a tad less sticky.

Closer to my vintage was the Masters Apprentices (another big omission) - this track rocks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GJkjRo5jkg ... they did well in the UK for a short while. The drummer, Colin (forgot last name) is a regular at a club we've played at a few times. Good guy - lots of fun.

I live in a beach town, been surfing all my life, and surfers travel, the surfing lifestyle translates across the globe, Rabbit Bartholomew was one of my hero's growing up, he spends alot of time in this area now. but whew I live the music/surf connection was how we knew about lots of Aussie music:: check this cover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PGKjPgbTt4

Or Gangajang with Sounds of Then (This is Australia) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML9h3I5Uktw ... there was this small movement in the 80s towards a romanticised idea of Aust. Bloody young cappuccino quaffing city slicking hipsters carrying on about the Great Outback ... yeah, don't forget your hair gel, lads

Men at Work's Downunder ... everyone knows this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeG-hNXXy6I ... they were successfully sued by Larrikin Music for plagiarism, arguing that the flute line was stolen from and old Aussie folk song. Rubbish - it was a crock of a decision.

Peter Allen's I Still Call Australia Home*gimme a bucket*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDLXdUnd-3o ... it's almost like an alternative national anthem, played to death on commercial TV when they want to induce a feeling of mawkish patriotism in suggestible Australians.

My fave MOW track is their first single http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPlNzWbX9c8 ... I had the feeling that Colin Hay started getting serious after a fun, quirky beginning. I dug their drummer live - simple but rock solid and great kit sound.

Funny thing ... I know the name well and probably know some of their songs but I know nothing about them. Did they come up in the 90s?

Here's one that's good for a laugh ... Moving Pictures had a No 1 with What About Me?, inspiring anthem for melodramatic whiny losers lol (esp those who are into The Boss) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzQKECQgjW8 ... love the lush drum production. I saw them play a few times - excellent live band. Later the vocalist, Alex Smith, was seen playing around the traps in soul bands.

As for jazz ... hard to go past the Australian Jazz Quintet featuring Errol Buddle on all saxes, flute, bassoon etc. He was the first Aussie jazzman to play with leading us jazzers like Elvin Jones, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holliday, Sammy Davis Jr, Roy Orbison, the Bee Gees and Nat 'King' Cole http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaIqAc23mok.

He's still gigging, I think (he must be around 80 now). I saw him play many times - the best was a quartet with brilliant drummer, Warren Daly, from the Daly Wilson Big Band.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnaLOP-qRYo

I remember The Hippos.....caught them several times myself. Loved their posters, remember them? The back of the singers neck.....looked just like a hippo too!

Great blues band.

Yeah, the same suited them perfectly. Les Karski was a great guitarist. The Hippos also had Bridie King playing for them at one stage (as per earlier posted vid) ... she played keys for every second blues band around.

geeeeeez Polly, this thread kicked me in the head, my niece would murder me if I mention oz rock and not bring up this guy: from the movie " dog's in space" which featured inxs front man in the lead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toFF3OvBR94

My fave MOW track is their first single http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPlNzWbX9c8 ... I had the feeling that Colin Hay started getting serious after a fun, quirky beginning. I dug their drummer live - simple but rock solid and great kit sound.

Funny thing ... I know the name well and probably know some of their songs but I know nothing about them. Did they come up in the 90s?

Here's one that's good for a laugh ... Moving Pictures had a No 1 with What About Me?, inspiring anthem for melodramatic whiny losers lol (esp those who are into The Boss) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzQKECQgjW8 ... love the lush drum production. I saw them play a few times - excellent live band. Later the vocalist, Alex Smith, was seen playing around the traps in soul bands.

As for jazz ... hard to go past the Australian Jazz Quintet featuring Errol Buddle on all saxes, flute, bassoon etc. He was the first Aussie jazzman to play with leading us jazzers like Elvin Jones, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holliday, Sammy Davis Jr, Roy Orbison, the Bee Gees and Nat 'King' Cole http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaIqAc23mok.

He's still gigging, I think (he must be around 80 now). I saw him play many times - the best was a quartet with brilliant drummer, Warren Daly, from the Daly Wilson Big Band.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnaLOP-qRYo

Truly world class.

wow. i had totally forgot about What About Me. that was a good flashback there. whiney...maybe, but not so bad. back to the Go_Betweens...i remember seeing that vid when it came out. only once and it never made it into rotation. i still swear Split Enz or somebody did a vieo on the same set. i just remember thinking i can't count that. : ) wah. what about me ? it isn't fair. i wanna be able to count some stuff like that. : (

Ha! When I was doing the last post I was thinking a lot of bands would be buried in the text. I actually did mention The Saints and Ed Kuepper in post #4, but missed their best song, Know Your Product. (that you linked).

Thanks, I forgot them. A guitarist in a band I was in a few years ago was mates with their drummer, Paul. He came along and jammed with us one time on the rehearsal studio kit, when I was playing keys. A powerful, rock solid drummer. I've attached a very roughly recorded but spirited cover of White Room from the jam.

Never knew much about these guys. Bit of a country rock vibe like Paul Kelly, who I was a couple of times. Not really into Paul's stuff, but he had a good band and I liked this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWhj4sVeVD0

geeeeeez Polly, this thread kicked me in the head, my niece would murder me if I mention oz rock and not bring up this guy: from the movie " dog's in space" which featured inxs front man in the lead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toFF3OvBR94

Ha - I forgot about this cover! I did have some Birthday Party earlier, though (post #43). I never saw the movie. Was it good?

Quote:

Originally Posted by unfunkyfooted

back to the Go_Betweens...i remember seeing that vid when it came out. only once and it never made it into rotation. i still swear Split Enz or somebody did a vieo on the same set.

For the life of me, I can't remember it. Have I mentioned Crowded House? Current band covers Better Be Home Soon but I'd much rather play this one: http://youtube.com/watch?v=aAjm1wzrDaE (it gets going after about a minute)

Ha! When I was doing the last post I was thinking a lot of bands would be buried in the text. I actually did mention The Saints and Ed Kuepper in post #4, but missed their best song, Know Your Product. (that you linked).

Well done. I skipped them because some local guys were Birdman fanatics and kind of turned me off them because they dissed music that I liked lol

Thanks, I forgot them. A guitarist in a band I was in a few years ago was mates with their drummer, Paul. He came along and jammed with us one time on the rehearsal studio kit, when I was playing keys. A powerful, rock solid drummer. I've attached a very roughly recorded but spirited cover of White Room from the jam.

Never knew much about these guys. Bit of a country rock vibe like Paul Kelly, who I was a couple of times. Not really into Paul's stuff, but he had a good band and I liked this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWhj4sVeVD0

Thanks! I missed these bands because I quit music and didn't even listen much from the mid 90s to 2007. Great that you guys are filling the gaps.

They were pretty big in a US for a while, eh?

Ha - I forgot about this cover! I did have some Birthday Party earlier, though (post #43). I never saw the movie. Was it good?

For the life of me, I can't remember it. Have I mentioned Crowded House? Current band covers Better Be Home Soon but I'd much rather play this one: http://youtube.com/watch?v=aAjm1wzrDaE (it gets going after about a minute)

Men At Work was the first the biggest of the first MTV bands to hit. although the was Flock Of Seagulls and other stuff, most of them were one hit wonders and holdovers from the 70's like REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar. to my mind, The Men (as we fondly referred to them here) were the first MTV era band proper (that had staying power).

actually, i meant Crowded House. not Split Endz. i know there is a connection and i often get them confused. Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over" still gets play and is one of the best songs ever. Split Enz were more talked about than heard, but i'm sure they have quite a following here. the name is well known. not as often actually heard in the real world.

Was holding off as it was a "rock" thread. But considering you're the thread starter and have introduced it, a few more for you:

Kevin Borich...with or without The Express....great bluesman.
Geoff Achison. Brilliant guitarist. One of the best we've produced IMHO.
Dutch Tilders. Sadly passed on earlier this year. Old style bluesman...didn't like the harp though, which I always thought odd.
The Giants. Bunch of big biker type guys who could really shake the room when they cranked up.
Dave Hole. WA based slide guitarist.

Great pick up. I have a mate who is an avid fan....he'd stone me alive for not remembering to mention them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by unfunkyfooted

Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over" still gets play and is one of the best songs ever.

Hearing Faith No More break into that song immediately after playing The Gentle Art Of Making Enemies provided one of the more surreal moments in my concert going history.

Don't think I've seen Mental As Anything mentioned either. Another good Aussie pub rock band. They had a couple of "odes to the bottle" in Too Many Times and The Nips Are Getting Bigger, that were always a bit of fun.
And the "Shivers" link reminded me of The Screaming Jets....who covered Nick Cave's song of the same name.

Was holding off as it was a "rock" thread. But considering you're the thread starter and have introduced it, a few more for you:

Kevin Borich...with or without The Express....great bluesman.
Geoff Achison. Brilliant guitarist. One of the best we've produced IMHO.
Dutch Tilders. Sadly passed on earlier this year. Old style bluesman...didn't like the harp though, which I always thought odd.
The Giants. Bunch of big biker type guys who could really shake the room when they cranked up.
Dave Hole. WA based slide guitarist.

Great pick up. I have a mate who is an avid fan....he'd stone me alive for not remembering to mention them.

Hearing Faith No More break into that song immediately after playing The Gentle Art Of Making Enemies provided one of the more surreal moments in my concert going history.

Don't think I've seen Mental As Anything mentioned either. Another good Aussie pub rock band. They had a couple of "odes to the bottle" in Too Many Times and The Nips Are Getting Bigger, that were always a bit of fun.
And the "Shivers" link reminded me of The Screaming Jets....who covered Nick Cave's song of the same name.

Mental As Anything got press here too. don't think i've ever heard any. Faith No More also used to do the Commodores' "Easy" which i caught as their last song when they opened for Billy Idol in the early 90's.

... Flock Of Seagulls ... one hit wonders ... The Men (as we fondly referred to them here) were the first MTV era band proper (that had staying power).

Ha - Flock of Seagulls - such a haircut band!

Quote:

Originally Posted by unfunkyfooted

i meant Crowded House. not Split Enz. i know there is a connection and i often get them confused. ...Split Enz were more talked about than heard, but i'm sure they have quite a following here

Both bands feature Neil Finn. At first Split Enz was lead by his brother, Tim Finn, and they were quirky, zany and a little bit prog. Then Neil took over and they started playing Beatlesque pop (and had commercial success). Then Neil took his Beatle revival thing into his own band, Crowded House. Amazed at how much Oz music you know!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pocket-full-of-gold

Was holding off as it was a "rock" thread. But considering you're the thread starter and have introduced it, a few more for you:

Kevin Borich...with or without The Express....great bluesman.

No need to hold off - I should have called it Oz (and NZ) music in hindsight.

I saw Kevin Borich Express HEAPS of times and had the Celebration album - the best lineup was a trio with John Annas on drums and Tim Partridge on bass. John Annas was my face drummer at the time. Awesome lineup - example http://grooveshark.com/#/album/Celebration/6123801.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pocket-full-of-gold

... Don't think I've seen Mental As Anything mentioned either. Another good Aussie pub rock band. They had a couple of "odes to the bottle" in Too Many Times and The Nips Are Getting Bigger, that were always a bit of fun.

Yeah I did. Mid 90's I reckon....well after their heyday. Caught them by default one night when there was a few of us out having dinner and a crowd started to arrive on the other side of the room. Once we realised that the Mentals were playing, we finished dinner, downed our drinks and lined up and got tickets just for the hell of it. They'll never be remembered for their brilliance, but they were a bit of fun.

Yeah I did. Mid 90's I reckon....well after their heyday. Caught them by default one night when there was a few of us out having dinner and a crowd started to arrive on the other side of the room. Once we realised that the Mentals were playing, we finished dinner, downed our drinks and lined up and got tickets just for the hell of it. They'll never be remembered for their brilliance, but they were a bit of fun.

Yeah, they were pretty pedestrian - even by my standards :) Reg Mombassa was the shining light in that band for me. Actually, I think is my fave Mentals tune, where they're apeing INXS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlHO8OrnynU

Remember when they changed their name to The Rads when punk came in? lol

Another band of similar vintage - The Reels - with Dave Mason on vocals, who was the son of a conservative politician (and perhaps a great disappointment for a while :). Iloved Quasimodo's Dreamhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiWifFP20z4

They used to practice in one of the rooms in a warehouse in Redfern, where my band used to practice. One time we blundered into their room. I admit having a go on the drummer's quirky kit (being careful to leave it exactly as I found it!) - great sounding drums.

side thought: your women basketball players are popular here too. Tully Bevillaqua (who must be 50 and just won her first WNBA championship), of course, Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor (such a sweet game she has - sigh), and Erin Thorn - the new blonde hottie.

I doubt OS members would know of these groups ... except Unfunky who seems to have the world's music at his fingertips :)

Remember when they changed their name to The Rads when punk came in? lol

Another band of similar vintage - The Reels - with Dave Mason on vocals, who was the son of a conservative politician (and perhaps a great disappointment for a while :). Iloved Quasimodo's Dreamhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiWifFP20z4

They used to practice in one of the rooms in a warehouse in Redfern, where my band used to practice. One time we blundered into their room. I admit having a go on the drummer's quirky kit (being careful to leave it exactly as I found it!) - great sounding drums.

Thanks! Always enjoyed Oz rock - it has its own flavour ... but I suspect that those last two links will attract people to Oz rock in the same way as Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce, is promoting tourism :)

The best of them IMO was Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band with My Canary Has Circles Under His Eyeshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNS0Iyh3prc - I saw them a few times and they really captured that old ragtime vibe. Very talented. Jim Conway (now in a wheelchair) is a brilliant blues harp player.